Month: November 2016

We never meet a taco night that we didn’t love. Really, how could you not love a tortilla-filled meal that’s filled with cheese, beans, meat, and really anything that you want stuff all up in there?! But the issue, as with many of our favorite […]

You may have seen some pictures of golden milk floating around your Pinterest boards or circulating on Instagram. A concoction of turmeric, coconut milk, coconut oil, and ginger, this power blend is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties that’s also high in antioxidants. With all of that […]

Before you are barely stuffed from Thanksgiving the slew of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Totally Annoying Tuesday have probably been starting to bombard you. Personally, we hate the consumerism and commercialization of the holidays but there is little to stop the buy this, get this world that we live in. That is except for Giving Tuesday.

As a global day started by the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y that’s fueled by social media, community, individuals, collaboration and various organizations to give celebrate and encourage giving back. Sounds awesome, right?! So, how do you get involved? It’s quite simple, actually. Read on to check out some ways that you can get involved in the Giving Tuesday movement on the 29th and beyond:

Giving Back this Giving Tuesday

Check out their directory: Giving Tuesday created an awesome directory via their ‘What’s Happening Near Me?’ section where you will find of local organizations, charities, events, and more so that you can give back in your very own community. And this doesn’t mean donating a huge chunk of your money. Many people get thrown off my charitable contributions if they don’t have that much money themselves. If you are tight on cash (we are, too!), simply give what you can or even volunteer your time

Take an #UNselfie: Share how you are giving back by posting your #UNselfie on your social media channels. They also have an #UNselfie sign and toolkit that has everything you need to get you started.

Donate your paycheck: Check with your company about how you can donate a part of your paycheck to a local charitable organization.

Winter is known for its comfort foods, which we will happily be indulging in next week with Thanksgiving. But this time of year is also know for its more methodical and slower recipes that take time to create as they nourish the mind, body and […]

Looking for a gift idea that gives back this holiday season? Then you’ve got to check out The Lewa Series, an incredible photography series that was created to bring global awareness to threatened wildlife. This collection of 21 black-and-white fine art images by film photographer, conservationist, and explorer KT Merry […]

We just finished reading the National Green Pages, an incredible guidebook for socially responsible shopping, living, and tons more! With the holidays coming, you’ll find tons of useful information on the greenest businesses in the country and more you’ll discover an extensive range of ideas for greening your lives, work, and community.

What You’ll Find in the National Green Pages:

Featuring thousands of socially and environmentally responsible businesses, the 2017 National Green Pages is a great resource for those who wish to create a safe and healthy home, promote peace and justice, protect the environment, and support a living wage for workers.

We also loved reading all of the informative articles such as how to shop for organic clothing, a product comparison to help you decide to buy green or make cleaning products on your own, eco-friendly body care, green remodeling, eco-travel, responsible banking and investing, and much more.

Another cool aspect about the companies featured in the 2017 National Green Pages is that they have to go through a careful certification process to ensure that their environmental and social responsibility claims are accurate. These businesses are certified by Green America for their social and environmental impacts, so you can rest assured that they actually back their claims. In addition to providing information on specific companies, the 2017 National Green Pages details the types of green businesses “you need in your life,” as well as the types of business “sucking the life out of your community,” and helps readers avoid greenwashing.

Hard copies of this year’s National Green Pages can be ordered for $12.45 per copy including shipping at http://www.greenamerica.org/pubs/order/ or by calling 1-800-58-GREEN. Green America members also receive the National Green Pages for free. Membership is available starting at $20 at: http://bit.ly/2fi0YUR. Information about companies certified by Green America can be accessed online at www.greenpages.org, which includes a search feature to find green, healthy, and ethical products and services.

We love to snack. Cause, really there’s no way we are going to make it from lunch to dinner without a nibble (or two). And you shouldn’t either, especially since you should be feeding your body with healthy and wholesome foods throughout the day to sustain […]

Sugar. A modern drug of choice that many of us grew up with never thinking that it would lead to serious health issues, like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, addiction, among others. You would think that the list of how harmful sugar is would be enough to scare anyone […]

How crazy is it that Thanksgiving is next week? As we mentally prep for the day (cause family), we are also collecting some healthy recipes to make sure that we get our greens amongst a day that is know for gluttony. Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving on your own (wow!) or are just showing up a as a guest, having healthy options is a great way to balance this meal and even have, dare we say it, a healthy Thanksgiving!? To help us out we are sharing some delicious recipes from our friends at Terra’s Kitchen, a healthy meal delivery service that are sure to inspire your Thanksgiving Day side action.

Basil-Infused Skillet Roasted Corn

To make, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon garlic in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add 1 more teaspoon garlic, corn (as much as you’d prefer), and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
Sauté 5 minutes or until corn is tender.
Stir in basil (add to your liking).

Crisp Haricots Verts in a Sweet and Sour Bacon Sauce

Roughly chop your bacon (as much as you prefer) and add to a large skillet over medium high heat.
Cook until crisp. Turn off heat.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer cooked bacon to the paper towel lined plate.
Place skillet back over a low heat.
Stir 2 tablespoons shallot into bacon renderings and cook, stirring until translucent (2 minutes). Whisk in 2 tablespoons mustard, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/3 cup water.
Increase heat to medium-low, add haricots verts in a single layer and cook, stirring occasionally, until beans are just cooked but still crisp (approximately 6-7 minutes)

Broccoli and Apple Salad

To make, bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil.
Add broccoli (7 ounces). Cook 3 minutes or until crisp-tender.
Drain broccoli, and plunge in a large bowl of ice water to stop cooking.
Pat the broccoli dry with paper towels. Chop the apples (5.5 ounces).
Make vinaigrette: Whisk together 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Combine broccoli, apples, pepitas, and onion in a serving bowl. Add vinaigrette and toss to coat

‘Tis the season for healthy comfort foods and you could say that we are thrilled! One of our favorite winter comfort foods is soup. Not only a way to warm up our bodies during the winter chill, soup is also an incredible food that can provide […]